With all schools reverting to online teaching for the rest of the school year, kids are home more than ever before. This means children have more leisure time which can possibly lead to boredom. Many children immediately turn to electronic devices and the internet to solve this problem, and this is not always a bad thing. Some time online is just fine and there are many educational websites that offer fun games and activities for children. These can help a child's mind to grow but of course, moderation is key. We all want children to have fun but we also want them to make smart and healthy choices when it comes to what they do in their free time. For most of us, we would love for our kids to read more. Reading helps a child to learn new things such as science, history, and vocabulary but it also nourishes a child's imagination. It is such an important part of a child's development.
So how do we encourage our kids to embrace reading and turn off the computer or smartphone? Here is a list of 5 ways to help your kids to read and actually enjoy it.
1) Be an Example
This is one of the most important items on this list. Children learn by watching and when they see their parent pick up their iPad and watch YouTube videos when they have leisure time, they will most likely copy. They think, "Hey, if Mom is watching cooking videos, then it's just fine for me to watch cartoons." If you want your kids to read more, pick up a book instead of your phone and they will notice. Just like what I said earlier about children, moderation is key. You might find changing your daily habits will not just help your kids become better readers but you as well.
2) Find Books on Your Child's Interests
We all have topics or genres that we love the most and the same goes for our kids. Children are all different and some may like books about animals while another might like books about American history. Every child is unique and its important to cater to their interests. Of course, this does not mean you can't ever encourage them to step outside their comfort zone and read something new. It simply means to let them lead and find books that interests them more than it interests you.
3) Create a Daily Quiet Time
Quiet Time is something I remember vividly as a child. When my brothers and I were too old for naps, my mother created Quiet Time, a short 30 minutes of quiet, alone time. Each child went to their rooms, sat on their beds and were given a few minutes to grab a book to read or a quiet toy to play with for 30 minutes. The rule was you had to stay on your bed and not talk until Mom came to get you. I usually read a book and enjoyed the silence (I'm sure my mom loved too). It was a nice time to relax and enjoy the action of just sitting and reading. Sometimes in this fast paced world, we forget to simply sit and be still. Making a daily Quiet Time is a wonderful addition to any schedule and encourages reading among all who participate.
4) Read Aloud
This is something I'm sure many parents do for their young children who have not yet learned to read, but this also helps encourage the older kids to read too. I remember my mother reading aloud throughout my childhood and she made any book interesting. She made voices for each character and put her all into making the words on the page come alive. Even my father loved to listen to her read and would make sure to sit with us and listen to the story when he could. Reading aloud makes books more interesting for some kids. They enjoy being read to, and yes, there are audiobooks and these are awesome resources, but reading together as parent and child or as a family is a wonderful way to bond closer together and learn together.
5) Make a Reading Challenge with Incentives
I am a pretty competitive person, so if I am given a challenge, I put my all in to completing said challenge. Many kids love games and doing special activities, or challenges, can encourage reading. Challenges could simply be reading for a certain amount of time each day or finishing a certain number of books. Give the child a reason to want to complete the challenge by offering prizes like candy, time making a craft or even money for the older ones. Book Bingo is a fun way to capture a child's attention. If you and your kids would like to give it a try, I have an online bingo card that anyone can use. Simply follow the link below to get to the virtual bingo cards. https://mfbc.us/m/a9xgss
I hope this post encouraged and helped you find new ways of encouraging your children to read now, over the summer, and even when school begins again in the fall. Make reading a priority for the whole family and you and your kids can grow your literary skills and knowledge together.
~Abigail C.
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